President-Elect Donald Trump to Be Sentenced on January 10
President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 in the criminal case in which he was convicted on charges involving hush money paid to a porn star, but is unlikely to face jail time or other penalties, a judge said on Friday.
Unprecedented Scenario in U.S. History
This is an unprecedented scenario in U.S. history, as no U.S. president – former or sitting – has been charged with or convicted of a crime. Trump, 78, may appear at his sentencing either in person or virtually.
Judge’s Ruling
Judge Juan Merchan’s ruling means Trump will be required to appear at a court hearing just 10 days before his January 20 inauguration. In his ruling, Merchan wrote that he was not inclined to sentence Trump to jail, and that a sentence of "unconditional discharge" – meaning no custody, monetary fine, or probation – would be "the most viable solution."
Trump’s Character
Merchan criticized Trump’s character, citing his "unrelenting and unsubstantiated attacks" against the integrity of the criminal proceeding. He noted that Trump had been found guilty of 10 counts of contempt during the trial for repeatedly violating an order restricting out-of-court statements about witnesses and others.
"EXTREME REMEDY"
The case stemmed from a $130,000 payment that Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. The payment was for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she has said she had a decade earlier with Trump, who denies it.
PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY
Trump on December 16 lost a separate bid to toss the hush money conviction in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 1 decision that presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted over their official actions, and that evidence of their official actions cannot be presented in criminal cases over personal conduct.
Conclusion
In conclusion, President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 for his involvement in a criminal case involving hush money paid to a porn star. While it is unlikely that he will face jail time or other penalties, the case is still a significant development in U.S. history. The outcome of the case will have far-reaching implications for the country and the political world.
FAQs
Q: What is the nature of the case against President-elect Trump?
A: The case involves charges of falsifying business records to cover up a payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels.
Q: What is the potential sentence for Trump?
A: The judge has ruled that Trump may be sentenced to "unconditional discharge," which means no custody, monetary fine, or probation.
Q: What is the significance of this case in U.S. history?
A: This is an unprecedented scenario in U.S. history, as no U.S. president – former or sitting – has been charged with or convicted of a crime.